Autumn 2007

M A S T E R

BREWER

www.shepherdneame.co.uk Winning Brands Winning Brands

This issue of MasterBrewer celebrates thewealth of beers we brewat Shepherd Neame and the many far-flunglocations where they are available.

Our beers are capitalising on a market driven bypeople looking for something different: distinctive,authentic products of the utmost quality. From pubs,supermarkets and clubs across the UK, through to thewilds of Hong Kong’s outer isles, Shepherd Neame alesare meeting an increasingly global trend for niche andspeciality products.

However, we know there are challenges ahead, bothfor our customers and ourselves, including: finding goodquality barley at the right price following the failure of theinternational crop; uncertainty in consumer confidencefollowing the credit crisis; and the first winter of puboperations following the smoking ban.

Despite these challenging trading conditions, wehave posted another record-breaking year of financialsuccess. Furthermore, evidence from other markets –particularly Scotland and Ireland – suggests a smoking ban results in a difficult first year, but followed by goodrecovery in subsequent years.

Our market research is helping to ensure we aremeeting and exceeding consumer expectations. As youwill read in this issue, you will see how our brand portfoliois in line with the market trends and our recent pubresearch shows we are providing the experience peopledemand: top quality food and drink, a convivialatmosphere and first-class customer service.

In only two years from now, we are poised to benefitfrom our geographical advantage. The high-speed link to London St Pancras will bring central and east Kentcloser to the capital, while the north of the county isideally positioned to exploit opportunities brought by the 2012 Olympic Games.

We are confident our long-term strategies andsustainable practices will ensure continued success,whatever the future holds.

Jonathan NeameChief Executive Shepherd Neame

Welcome Interim results

Cover shot: Kent Spitfires celebrate their Twenty20 Cup win Credit: KM Group

Turnover tops£100million for first timeAnother very strong financial performancein an increasingly challenging market has seen the company record its 32ndconsecutive year of profit growth.

Highlights for the 52 weeks ended 30 June 2007included:

• Pre-tax profit before exceptionals up 9.9%to £10.5m

• Operating profit before exceptionals up 6.9%to £13.9m

• Earnings per £1 share up 14.3% to 73.4p• Dividends per £1 share up 7.5% to 21.5p• Turnover up 4.9% to £100.0m

Both the company’s brewing and pub operationsperformed strongly within the last 12 months, withtenanted pub like-for-like contribution up 6.2% andmanaged house sales up 4.3%. Profit before tax is up3.3% to £11.6m and barrels brewed rose 1.8% to 221,000.

The company has experienced a record year ofcapital investment, the highlight of which was theacquisition of 12 freehold pubs for a total of £16.4m.Further significant investment over the year has been in the existing estate, modernising the brewery, business processes and information systems.

Miles Templeman, chairman, said: “The companyhas achieved excellent growth this year against abackground of challenging market conditions. This hasbeen a good performance with strong results in all partsof the business. This has also been a year of recordcapital investment that will provide a strong platform for long-term growth.”

He continued:“Trading performancesince the year end issatisfactory, despitepoor summerweather, the smokingban and pressure onthe consumer frominterest rate rises.Although we facecontinuing externalregulatory pressureconcerning alcohol,environmental andsocial responsibility, Ihave great confidencein our ability to growin the future.”

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Next Generation

Royal visit

When Percy Beale Neamefirst joined the brewery in1864, it is unlikely he couldhave predicted the role hisfamily would play in it overthe next 300 years.

As the brewery passed downthrough generations, so the extendedfamily broadened. With Percy and wifeFlorence having had 10 children – byno means unusual at the time – thereare now about 100 direct descendents.

Next Generation aims to educateand inform family members about their shared heritage and history and organise social events for family members.

Committee member Ros Tappexplains more: “We’re hoping to meet up regularly and have already

held a beer and food evening at theFreemasons Arms, Covent Garden.Family members are also keeping intouch via a newsletter and we’re hopingto launch a website, possibly with aninteractive family tree.”

She continues: “We are keen to welcome family members to ourevents and are especially keen to bringin new committee members and ideasfor events.”

investment, we are not only minimisingour impact on the environment, butalso underlining our reputation as aproducer of first-rate cask beer.

“His Royal Highness’ visit marksthis latest part of our modernisation

programme, and recognises our tworecent award wins: the Queen’s Awardfor Sustainable Development and theNational Business Award for Corporate Social Responsibility.”

The brewery was delighted towelcome the Duke of Kent toFaversham to recognise thecompany’s Queen’s Award forSustainable Development andformally unveil ShepherdNeame’s latest modernisation– a new cask packaging plant.

He toured the new-look visitorcentre and unveiled a plaque in thecask plant before enjoying lunch withsome of the brewery staff, suppliersand shareholders.

The plant enables production staffto centralise cask packaging to onelocation, the former keg plant at themiddle of the town centre site. It alsoallows for increased energy efficiencyand productivity.

Automated cask handling willreduce noise and ensure the higheststandards of health and safety.

Jonathan Neame said: “Byincreasing our efficiency with this Jonathan Neame and the Duke of Kent at the Faversham brewery

Ros Tapp, Cariad Neameand Abigail Gollicker

Shepherd Neame may be renowned for its fine Kentishales, but as Master Brewer discovers, its portfolio of brandsoffers you the opportunity to try a world of beer. And, assales and marketing director Graeme Craig explains, that’sgood news for the long-term future of the company

Wide portfolio

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is key to success

Sales and marketingdirector Graeme Craig

(front) with the sales department

Although Shepherd Neame’sreputation for making award-winningales is second to none, Graeme isquick to point out that to survive and flourish in an increasinglycompetitive marketplace, it isimportant to offer consumers a wide range of quality products.

“It’s not just a choice of ale orlager any more.” he says. “Customersare becoming more discerning and as core markets fragment, nicheproducts are on the rise and that’swhat is driving growth in our market.This means businesses, such as ours, will thrive as they maximise their offerof a full spectrum of tastes and styleswhile maintaining excellent quality.Research suggests consumers findmainstream brands less appealing. This means the time is ripe forspeciality ales and lagers: what mattersis regionality, authenticity and tradition.In the lager market in particular, Asianbeers are in vogue.”

This view is echoed in the market,where top-fermented beer posted an 8% rise in sales to £364m betweenApril 2006 and April 2007 (TNSWorldpanel). Meanwhile, supermarketsare dedicating more space to the wide range of authentic beers nowavailable and sales in this sector grewby 28% within Waitrose stores aloneduring the last year.

Within Shepherd Neame, bottledBishops Finger is the perfect exampleof this. It is a beer of excellentprovenance: silver winner of the 2006Taste of Britain award, brewed to astrict charter and is thought to be theonly beer that is the product of asingle county. It is also enjoying verystrong growth of 6.9%.

Customers are becomingmore discerning and nicheproducts are on the rise

The brands brewed and distributedby the brewery extend way beyond thetraditional ales for which it is renowned.Graeme continues: “People are constantlysurprised at the breadth of our brandportfolio. We have beers matching thethree main Asian cuisines – Asahi withJapanese food, Sun Lik with Chineseand Kingfisher in Indian restaurants.We’re also tapped into the burgeoningUS craft beer market, as the UK’s soleimporter of America’s market leader;Samuel Adams Boston Lager.

“On top of this, we have adistinctive trio of Continental lagers - apilsener with Dutch classic Oranjeboom,a Rheinheitsgebot brewed Germanfavourite in Holsten Export and thedistinctive and malty Swiss HürlimannSternbrau. Combined, these giveconsumers the broadest of choice.”

He adds: “It may be unusual for a regional brewer to be the custodian of so many brands, but we take it as acompliment that so many great namesfrom around the world regard us as asafe pair of hands.”

Looking to the futureGraeme said: “What I’ve learnt

during my time at Shepherd Neame sofar is that the company’s managed tothrive while excelling at its core activities– brewing excellent ales and runningfirst-class pubs – while not being afraidto capitalise on opportunities whetherit is brewing lagers or the creative useof media to promote its brands.

“Consumer research suggests the market is moving in our directionso there is no denying these areexciting times.”

Spitfire is the 5th most wanted draught ale by licensees asked whatthey would stock, given the choice - The Publican

Spitfire is the 5th most wanted draught ale by licensees asked whatthey would stock, given the choice - The Publican

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Shepherd Neame beers canbe available in hundreds of clubs, more than 5,000 pubs and 7,000 shops

Beyond our pubsShepherd Neame’s role as a pub

operator is well-known, more than halfof the beer brewed at the Favershambrewery is sold outside of the company’spub estate. Shepherd Neame beerscan be available in hundreds of clubs,more than 5,000 pubs (as a rotatingguest beer) and 7,000 shops the lengthand breadth of the country.

Sales are particularly growing invenues that meet consumer demandsfor quality, be they ‘style-bars’, goodquality pubs, clubs or restaurants.What matters is they cater to consumerdemands for distinctive products.

To meet increasing demand, the sales department has expandedaccordingly; two new national accountmanagers and four regional accountmanagers are aiding nationwidedistribution. In addition, a BusinessDevelopment Channel has beenestablished under David Townshend’s leadership.

To focus more on marketing, wehave created two brand manager rolesspecifically for Asahi and Sun Lik.

To help strengthen themanagement team, new heads of take-home trade and free trade sales -an internal promotion for Giles Hilton(right) - have been appointed.

A significant factor in the renewedinterest in speciality beer is consumers’increasing interest in locally-sourced,often regionally-distinct food,encouraged by initiatives such asShepherd Neame’s Local Food FromLocal People programme.

Richard Fox, the “Beer Chef”, says:“As we look for these higher-qualityregional values in our food, so we lookfor the same in the beverages thataccompany them.”

The winner of the 2006 BishopsFinger Award for Beer and Food Writingargues: “Given that any nation’s – oreven climactic region’s – cuisine has anassociated drinks culture, the fact thatwe are a nation steeped in the grainrather than the grape is grounds enoughfor some serious beer consideration.”

As well as diners, women could prove another growth area for beer appreciation.

CAMRA research suggests that 8 out of 10 women have never triedreal ale in a pub because one in threewomen feel that drinking from a pintglass is unfeminine. The survey foundthat 37% of women pub goers aged 18 to 24 said they would try real ale if it was served in a more stylish glass (see our feature on Whitstable Bayglasses on page 14).

Paula Waters is CAMRA’s firstwoman chairman, she says: “Nowadayspeople care about their image whenthey are out, as well as what is in theglass. Stylish glassware has boostedthe sales of imported Belgian beers andthere is no reason why a similar approachcould not work for British real ale.”

Shepherd Neame’s new head offree trade sales is Giles Hilton. He willlook after pubs, clubs, freehouses and local direct delivery. Giles is by nomeans new to the company. He hasbeen internally promoted from thetenanted pub side of the businesswhere he has worked since 1997, buthis association with the brewery goesback further than that. Giles ran TheGranville pub, Stone Street, from 1988until 1995, when he was appointedclub manager of Etchinghill Golf Club.

A keen supporter of local rugby,former second-row Giles is chairman ofCanterbury Rugby Club. He is marriedwith two children and lives in Selling.

Meet the people

The land of the freeAles and lagers brewedat Faversham can befound in many moreplaces than simplyShepherd Neame pubs.

Alex Sheen is ShepherdNeame’s regional accountmanager for the West andWales area and is responsiblefor promoting our productsin both the on and off trades.

He deals with independent traders,and pub companies such as Punch,Enterprise M&B and Wetherspoons aswell as cash and carries and wholesalers.

Here’s a typical day for Alex whileworking in the Cardiff area

9amAttend a meeting at BA Cash & Carryto collect sales data and to sell inChristmas Ale. Check tickets andprices. Put in price for new 500ml Asahi for Zushi, Wales’ first conveyorbelt sushi and noodle restaurant.

10amPhone Richard Anstee of GlamorganBeers about a local account. Discussprogress on an Asahi Draught deal foran oriental restaurant.

11amVisit a popular nightclub, an Asahi client.Tell them about current Waverley TBSdeal on Asahi bottles. Discuss a jointpromotion for their movie night.

12.30pmMeet a new stockist to check sales ofSpitfire. Drop in the new pump clip,branded glasses and bar towels.

1pmPop into the Vale of Glamorgan pub,which is now selling Bishops Finger.Introduce myself to licensee and check they have enough point of sales material and glassware.

2pmVisit local hotels to see how Spitfire isselling as a guest beer. There is alwaysthe chance that, if it sells well, amanager may choose to stock itpermanently. Sample a half pint tocheck that it tastes satisfactory!

4pmCheck sales of Sun Lik Draught at alocal Chinese restaurant following arecent installation. I also drop off some‘tentcards’ for the tables which helpadvertise brand.

5pmSee the manager of a popular nightclub todiscuss putting Asahi Draught on the bar.

6pmVisit a Chinese restaurant in Bristol onthe way home for dinner with a client. Evenings are often spent visitingclients, seeing public interaction withthe product first-hand.

Below: A major supporter of many sportsclubs across the South East, ShepherdNeame sponsors Canterbury Rugby Cluband the Kent Spitfire Sevens.

Right: The brewery supplies beer to socialclubs such as the Northwood Club,Ramsgate, run by Bill Jane and his son Billy(pictured) – a Shepherd Neame customerfor more than 60 years.

Above: Upmarket bars and hotels such as TheRoyal Wells Hotel, Mount Ephraim, TunbridgeWells, so named because Queen Victoria was a regular visitor, is one of the most elegantlocations to enjoy Shepherd Neame beers.

Below: Shepherd Neame beers are enjoyed atsporting, entertainment and fashion festivals andparties such as Henley Regatta (pictured) througha partnership with Gorilla, one of Britain’s coolestevent management companies.

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1698 Ale is theTaste of Britain

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‘‘Generously malty with toffee,butter and sultana flavours

Making a bottle conditionedbeer is the kind of challengewe readily accept and it’sthe type of connoisseurs’beer we revel in brewing

1698 Bottle ConditionedStrong Ale has won thesilver award in Best UKDrink / Beverage Categoryof the Daily Telegraph and Sainsbury’s Taste ofBritain Awards.

It’s the second time in a rowShepherd Neame has won the award,with Bishops Finger Kentish Strong Ale winning silver in 2006’s inauguralcompetition. As with Bishops Finger,1698 was the highest placed beer.

The awards aim to recogniseproducts of regional distinction, madefrom the highest quality ingredients by master craftsmen. The winners are regarded as a showcase ofquintessentially British food.

Judges were impressed that 1698could be laid down to mature, thanksto the presence of yeast which allowsfor secondary fermentation. This helpsmature the beer, allowing drinkers toage bottles to their preferred depthand complexity of flavour.

The yeast and sugars interact tocreate a natural effervescence that addsto the fragrance; many have likened itto a natural champagne-like fizz.

The vast majority of ales havehops added twice during brewing, abitter variety before boiling and anaromatic variety afterwards. In 1698hops are added a third time, justbefore fermentation, to preserve itslightness and balance and prevent itbecoming too sweet.

One judge, a renowned beerwriter, described the result as“generously malty with toffee, butterand sultana flavours”. Cheers to that!

Production and distributiondirector, Ian Dixon said: “The brewingteam are delighted with this award win.Making a bottle conditioned beer isthe kind of challenge we readily acceptand it’s the type of connoisseurs’ beerwe revel in brewing. For beer to win anational award such as this, against allother drinks categories, recognises thediversity and quality beer offers.”

Beer and food matchingsuggestions

While 1698 makes the perfectcompanion for dark meats and game,such as venison, beef and wild boar,the adventurous gastronome will pair1698 with sumptuous, rich puddings.Think sticky toffee, plum duff andanything which contains bitter, darkchocolate, with a high-cocoa content.

’’‘‘We take a dynamic approach

in our promotion of Sun Likbeer, befitting of the brand

Eastern

Brand manager Olly Scott flanked by P1 pilotsMartin Lai (right) and Andreas Halkiopoulos

Hong Kong-style Sun LikBeer is now in a third of thenation’s Chinese restaurantsand has been brewed byBritain’s oldest brewer,Shepherd Neame, since1997. Master Brewer’s beenlooking into the mystery ofthe Orient…

As speciality brewer ShepherdNeame has developed a diverseinternational lager portfolio tocomplement its traditional Kentishales. Most recently it has signed itssecond 10-year brewing contract withSan Miguel Breweries (Philippines) forSun Lik Beer, reaffirming the relationshipwith one of the world’s biggest breweries.

With year-on-year sales up 10.1%,Sun Lik is breaking out from thetraditional Chinese restaurant marketand into gastropubs and contemporarypan-Asian bars. San Miguel Breweries(Philippines) president Carlos Berbasays the future is bright for the beer:“I’m impressed by the diversity of beeravailable in the UK. People want to trynew things and are moving away from‘standard’ products to discover morevariety through speciality beers – so it’sa particularly good time for Asian lagers.“

Sun Lik is being supported by a powerful marketing campaign asbrand manager Olly Scott explains:“We take a dynamic approach in ourpromotion of Sun Lik beer, befitting of the brand. We have launched a new website and draught font, won asilver medal from the British Bottler’sInstitute and are even sponsoring aPowerboat P1 team.“

So, what next for a brand that hasexperienced such rapid growth sinceits introduction to the UK 10 yearsago? With the forthcoming Olympicsin Beijing, 2008 promises to be a bigyear for all things Chinese. This comingyear will be full of activity, includingadvertising (featured above) coupledwith trade and consumer promotions,culminating in a distributor incentivescheme trip to the Chinese capital next autumn.

About Sun LikBrewed according to its original orientalrecipe, Sun Lik Beer blends hops andmalt with natural, chalk-filtered mineralwater. Rice is also added to Sun LikBeer, to give it a refreshing andunmistakably oriental taste.

Sun Lik Beer is distributed to more than 800 Chinese restaurantsacross the UK and is available inbottles within Shepherd Neame pubsand the free trade.

Powering forwardSun Lik Beer has signed headlinesponsorship deal with the Ocean Dragonracing team in the Powerboat P1 WorldChampionship 2007 – the maritimeequivalent of Formula One racing.

The team unveiled their new 1,000horsepower Super Sport Class boat atShepherd Neame’s Faversham breweryat the start of the new season.

P1 involves courses in excess of80 miles in length and boats reachspeeds that would be equivalent to200mph on land. More than 250,000spectators attend the races which aretelevised to more than 100 millionhomes worldwide.

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Promise

The Brighton Fringe Festival 2007

Asahi raised its profile in the artsworld by sponsoring Udderbelly at theBrighton Fringe Festival held in May on Old Steine Lawns, Brighton, andproviding a full-service bar at the venue.

For the uninitiated, Udderbelly is a 396-seater performance venuehoused inside a colossal upside-downinflatable cow!

The venue is run by Underbelly,an offshoot of the Edinburgh Fringe,and used to present cutting edgecabaret, music, theatre, comedy andchildren’s entertainment.

Performers included cabaret act 4 Poofs and a Piano (featured on theJonathan Ross show); theatre withDavid Benson’s show Think No Evil of Us: My Life with Kenneth Williams;and comedians Stewart Lee, Sean Hughes and Jerry Sadowitz.

RISE AND SHINEShine, Asahi’s latest advertising

campaign, uses striking interpretationsof the rising sun, conveying a lively andoptimistic feel and positioning thebrand as a contemporary, premiumchoice for those “in the know”.

The campaign bears the slogan:“Asahi is Japanese for ‘rising sun’. A symbol of spirit, hope andinspiration. Shine.”

Advertising agency HooperGalton recruited Japanese studentsfrom Central St Martins College of Artand Design and the London College ofCommunications to design a series of“rising suns” which are used across theexecutions and displayed on the Asahiwebsite. The week of the longest day,June 21, was chosen to launch thecampaign in national newspapers andmagazines such as Arena, GQ, Theme,The Guardian and – appropriately -The Sun.

The summer campaign alsoextended to digital escalator panels on the London Underground and anonline campaign on websites such asUrban Path and Urban Junkies.

Brand manager Christian Hamilton (right) said: “Hooper Galton have developed a concept that can work across a broad range of media as well as form a platform for future work. The campaign has asimple, honest and uplifting messageat its heart, setting us apart from otherbrands and developing a distinctiveand suitably exclusive tone.”

BLACK IN THE UKAsahi Black is becoming the cool,

new choice among trendy drinkers inLondon’s bars and restaurants.

Asahi Black is made from threedifferent roasted malts, giving it a rich,nutty flavour that makes it incrediblysmooth-drinking and warming.

Unlike other dark beers andstouts, it’s brewed using the processof bottom fermentation, which gives it a subtle, sweet edge and smooth flavour.

Japan’s favourite dark beer has an abv of 5%, is sold in 334ml bottles and is available in venues such as Zuma, Wagamama and China White.

Asahi is the bottled beer the trade most wants to get itshands on - Theme Magazine

France – Santé!Spitfire’s ‘Bottle of Britain’ credentials have inspired one of our importers tocreate a piece of furnature called ‘the Red Telephone Box’ which stores 20, 30 or 60 bottles!

Spain – Salud!Serving 50 bars in Benidorm and Alicante,the brewer’s spanish importer has investedin its own Spitfire branded dray to deliverSpitfire and Bishops Finger to thirsty touristsand expats.

Shepherd Neame’s hand-crafted ales are enjoyedacross the globe as beer-lovers on four continentsdiscover the hoppy, zestyflavours of Kent.

The brewery exports to more than 20 countries around the globe. The Scandinavian countries of Sweden,Denmark, Norway and Finland make up a large proportion of the export market,and Bishops Finger and Spitfire areespecially popular.

Many pubs have English names suchas the Woolpack in Karlstad and theRover in Gothenburg and there’s even a pub in Stockholm called the Spitfire!

Another thriving market is Italy,where Shepherd Neame beers are onsale from Trieste in the north down toSicily, where Shepherd Neame is the onlyEnglish beer available on the island.

Sales are also strong in Russia bothin the on and off trades and Kentishbeers, as well as Sun Lik lager, are sellingwell in St Petersburg and Moscow.

A new, very successful market isDubai where, for the past 14 months, wine importers MMI have begun to buyBishops Finger, Spitfire and 1698, forbars serving the kingdom’s growingtourist and expat trade.

Spitfire is now being enjoyedliterally to the ends of the Earth, as the British Antarctic Survey vessel hasordered the beer to refresh scientistsrelaxing after a hard day’s work.

Cheers! Salud! Skål! Santé!

Falklands – Cheers!This year, the brewery was commissioned toproduce a beer called Dakota, shipped out tothe South Atlantic to help the ParachuteRegiment celebrate the 25th anniversary of theliberation of the Falklands.

Canada – Cheers!Troy Kirby (above) has created thememorabilia-crammed Spitfire Arms in thetiny town of Windsor as his personal homageto the heroes of World War II. Spitfire takespride of place among the pub’s selection of imported beers and there are Spitfireadvertisements on the walls.

3.7 milliexportedthan 20 c

Stockholm’s very own Spitfire pub

Italians enjoy pints of ShepherdNeame beer in the piazzas

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Russia - Budem zdorovy!One of the most interesting places to buyBishops Finger, 1698, Whitstable Bay andSpitfire is the gloriously ornate supermarketEliseevskiy (left) in Tverskaya Street, Moscow.It was built by great Moscow architectMatvey Kazakov in the late 18th century, anda luxury store in 1901 but by the end of theSoviet period the shelves were empty –leading to the arrest and execution of thestore director!

Japan – Kampai!The Warrior Celt is a novelty in Tokyo - forselling beer in pints! The pub is famous for itsselection of international beers includingSpitfire, Bishops Finger and Whitstable Bay.

Prost! Na zdrowie! Gan bei!

Hong Kong – Gom bui!Shepherd Neame beers are sold at a pubcalled The Aviator, near Chek Lap Kok airport.

Sweden – Skål!Bottle-conditioned 1698 has gone down wellwith Swedes, who tend to prefer higher abvbeers, and appreciate its strength and richflavour. Sales of bottled Whitstable Bay OrganicAle are also buoyant, although Swedish speakersstruggle to get their tongue round the name!

Italy – Salute!Griffin’s Irish Pub (right), a traditional alehousetucked in the picturesque old town ofModena, began serving Spitfire and OriginalPorter this year.

on pintsd to morecountries

Our Italian distributors enjoythis year’s Hop Festival

A customer at Tokyo’s The Warrior Celtenjoys a pint of SpitfireA customer at Tokyo’s The Warrior Celtenjoys a pint of Spitfire

Duncan Crosbie, Shepherd Neame’s nationalaccount executive, presented the veterans withSpitfire Premium Kentish Ale and other Spitfirebranded goodies.

Veteran pilots toasted the50th anniversary of theSpitfire’s last operationalflight with Spitfire PremiumKentish Ale during a moving weekend ofcommemoration at RAFWoodvale on Merseyside.

The last ever three Spitfires toserve the RAF flew out of the airfield,in Formby, on 10 June 1957.

Organisers invited 50 veteranswho flew and maintained the Spitfiresat the base between 1941 and 1957 totake part in a dinner in the officers’ messand a memorial service on the flightline.They were also treated to a flypast fromone of their former charges, and a pintor two of Spitfire thanks to nationalaccount executive Duncan Crosbie.

Spitfire ale helps RAF celebrate iconic fighter’s final mission

Whitstable Bay Organic Ale is enjoying increasedavailability following severalnational supermarket listings.

A national listing in Tesco and aspell as one of Sainsbury’s summer guestales have helped boost the brand’savailability. It is already available inAsda, Londis and Majestic Wines.

Attractive new Continental-stylestemmed glassware has been introducedin the on-trade to encourage customers- especially women - to try the ale withfood and generally widen its appeal.

Says Shepherd Neame sales andmarketing director Graeme Craig:“Whitstable Bay is a clean, refreshing

ale, made from the finest ingredientsand chalk-filtered mineral water drawnfrom our own well.

“It is arguably the beer with thebroadest appeal within our profile. It’san ideal match for seafood and servesas a crossover beer for those interestedin discovering the depths of flavoursoffered by premium ale.”

The 4.5% abv ale’s namesake isthe east Kent coastal town renownedfor its seafood, particularly its oysters,and popular with celebrities and theLondon set as a seaside idyll.

It is available in 500ml bottlesthroughout the year and on draught in selected Shepherd Neame pubs and free trade outlets between Juneand September.

New glassware widens appeal

Fans of Spitfire’s tongue-in-cheek advertising were treated to a new series of rugby-themed advertisements, which ranthroughout the Rugby World Cup in September and October.

The ads appeared in a 64-page Spitfire brandedEvening Standard World Cup supplement. They alsofeatured in specialist rugby and trade titles and aSpitfire sponsored fantasy rugby competition withthepublican.com.

Branded kits featuring rugby balls, noveltybottle-openers, fixture cards, posters, collector cardsand beer mats were distributed to selected pubcompanies, independents and Shepherd Neame pubs.

Spitfire scores withRugby WorldCup Promotion

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Oranjeboom sponsored theKMFM Battle of the Bandswhich reached its climax atChatham’s Dockside OutletCentre following six heatsheld across Kent throughoutAugust in venues in westKent, Medway, Shepway,Ashford, Canterbury and Thanet.

The six acts taking part in the finalwere ShyChlo (Ashford), Bill WearsDresses (Thanet), Billy Rebel (Medway),Hey Zeus (Canterbury), The BelgraveScandal (west Kent) and The Joneses(Shepway). There was also entertainmentfrom a pro band – The Parlotones.

Music fans were able to enjoy aShepherd Neame beer tent featuringOranjeboom lager.

The winners were Billy Rebel, whoimpressed the judges with a ghoulishcollection of songs about monsters,ghosts and weird creatures.

Oranjeboom– it’s a lager not a tune

Todd’s the Wine Co. has a stylish new websitewww.toddsthewinecompany.co.uk highlighting its exclusive portfolio of wines and spirits and inviting trade customers to request a copy of its current list.

Designed by ABA Creative, the sitefeatures some of Todd’s exclusive wines,Boonaburra from Australia made byindependent Barossa producer GrantBurge, from Italy its highly successfulbrand Mezzora. New Zealand profilesRunnymede Island made uniquely forTodd’s by the renowned Jackson Estateand, from the South of France, Pareewith its very successful range of Vin dePays wines.

The spirit section features Ikonvodka, Eaton blue gin, Master Blendwhisky and a traditional ShepherdNeame favourite - Grant’s Morella CherryBrandy, which holds a Royal Warrantfrom The Prince of Wales and is nowavailable at the Windsor Park Farm shop.

In addition to Todd’s exclusivelines, the site also illustrates a range of international wines and spirits toservice all sectors of the on trade.

For a limited period, onlinecustomers can order a bottleof Grant’s Morella CherryBrandy, normally priced at£14.95 a bottle; it can bedelivered as a gift anywherein the UK for just £17.50.

Customers also have an exclusive opportunity to orderRunnymede Island, from New Zealand’s renowned Jackson Estate. Both the MarlboroughSauvignon 2006 and the Pinot Noir 2006, with tasting notes by Daily Mail wine critic Matthew Jukes, are available to order online. One case (12 x 75cl bottles) can be delivered anywhere in the UK for £90.www.toddsthewinecompany.co.uk

Stylish new look for Todd’s website

Cherry-pickedconsumer offers

Billy Rebel: Matt Rogers, Ash Tarrant, Joe Marshall and Dave Billings

KMFM presenters Kirstyn Read and Richard Walters entertain the crowd

Home-cooking in HastingsHome-made pies, roasted hams,

curries and chilies, all created fromlandlady Eileen Fowlie’s own recipes arethe order of the day at The Harrow, onthe Ridge, St Leonards, acquired bythe brewery in March and transformedby a stylish £200,000 refurbishment.

The Harrow can accommodatemore than 70 diners, with a menu aimedto appeal to a wide range of tastesand an emphasis on good value, freshproduce and good, honest homely meals.

The pub now has fresh, airy barareas with stylish mirrors, chandeliersand slate flooring.

The exterior has been completelyrefurbished with a new roof, newsignage and lighting. At the front,there is a smoking area comprising twocomfortable benches covered by a“jumbrella”, equipped with lightingand heaters.

Family fun in AshfordThe South Eastern Tavern,

in Torrington Road, Ashford, has re-opened with new licensees following a £122,000 makeover.

The pub nowboasts a packedprogramme ofentertainment,including livemusic, a quiznight, and dartsand pool teamsfor both men and women.Licensees ClaireRayson and Dean

Wilson plan to serve bar food in thepub, which has been redecorated in asimple, traditional style, with oldpictures of historic Ashford on the walls.

Greenwich pub decked outA few yards from the

refurbishment of the Cutty Sark, amajor facelift for another Greenwichlandmark, The Spanish Galleon pub,has sailed through with flying colours.

The brewery refurbished the pub,which dates back to 1834, in a chic,maritime style.

The Spanish Galleon now offers a smart upstairs function room with its own bar, baby changing facilitiesand the building is now completelyaccessible to wheelchair users. Theconservatory has a new roof and the restaurant area has enjoyed acomplete refit.

Northern comfort food in BrightonThe Northern Tavern in Ditchling

Road, Brighton, has had a £90,000refurbishment, redesigning the mainbar using a smart blend of traditionaland contemporary styles featuringattractive seating in dark wood andcomfortable leather sofas.

The lounge has been adapted tocreate a function room with its ownbar. Outside there is a decked al frescoseating area, with heating and lighting.

The pub also has a talented newchef, Neal Tatham, who trained underMarco Pierre White and has worked inrestaurants all over the world.

He and tenant Ian Jebson aredeveloping an innovative new barmenu including mezes, home-madescotch eggs and a dish Ian describesas “northern comfort food” – agenerous portion of hand-made chips,partnered by mushy peas, curry sauceand onion gravy!

Sports’ screenings in Walton on Thames

The George Inn, Bridge Street,Walton on Thames, popular with sportsfans, now boasts two state-of-the-art,42-inch plasma television screensfollowing a £40,000 refurbishment.

A public house since 1880, carehas been taken to preserve thebuilding’s authentic Victorian features.The interior has been redecorated anda new bar added and outside the patioarea has a new canopy.

Tenant Ian Jebson (right), his business partnerBrendan O’Reilly and staff member Amelia Harris

Stylish function room in Brightoncity centre

The Caxton Arms, Brighton,acquired by the brewery last year, hashad a £160,000 refurbishment.

Inside, the pub has a light,welcoming feel. A new solid oak barhas been installed, the wooden floorreconditioned and the pub decoratedin cream tones with bright, patternedwallpaper in places.

The downstairs function room, whichsuits up to 60 people, has been fullyrefurbished, offering a comfortable venue.

Pub NewsOutside, the front of the pub has

been redecorated and an attractivenew pub sign added. To the rear, a heated terrace garden provides apleasant, contemporary environmentto socialise, drink and smoke.

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Light, open dining spaceThe Plough & Horses, near

Farnborough, purchased by thebrewery last year, has re-openedfollowing a £166,000 makeover.

Manager Aaron Davies plans toturn the pub into a community localwith an emphasis on good food.Regular customers have even startedan on-site allotment to supply

vegetables to the pub kitchen.Two HD televisions have been

installed in the bar area and partitionsin the pub’s large restaurant area havebeen removed, creating a light, opendining space.

New pub signs have been put up outside and covered, heated areasfor al fresco eating and drinking will be added to the pub’s large garden.

A real jewel in the CrownThe Crown and Cushion

in Surrey has had a £73,000refurbishment by the brewery,which purchased the historicpub in Blackwater last year.

The charming 16th centurypub takes its name from theplot in 1671 by Colonel ThomasBlood to steal the CrownJewels from the Tower ofLondon and is rumoured to be haunted.

The pub also boasts ‘The Meade Hall’ (picturedright) constructed from tworenovated 16th century barns.The room is fully air-conditioned,and is used for a Sundaycarvery as well as a uniquesetting for weddings, partiesand Christmas functions.

Licensees Don and GlynisCross, of the Walnut Tree,East Farleigh, donated a£1,000 charity cheque to theKent Air Ambulance afterwinning a community awardfrom the Morning Advertiser.

In choosing the Walnut Tree as awinner in its Heart of the Community Pub Honours, the Morning Advertiserpraised the couple for developing afundraising culture at the pub that’shelped raise more than £9,000 for localand national charities in the past year.

Fundraising efforts have included ayearly music event, the Farleigh ForceFestival, which in 2006 raised £1,700 forlocal charity the Anthony Nolan Trust, asponsored head shave, cycling tours,quiz nights and collection boxes.

Don said: “The award is for everyonein our community that has supportedour events and Glynis and I are bothdelighted and proud to have won.”

Don and Glynisare the heart ofthe community

Stylish functions in Covent GardenFunctions are better than ever at

the Freemasons Arms in CoventGarden thanks to a £70,000refurbishment of the pub’s upstairsmeeting room.

The Victorian pub is still usedregularly by Freemasons but also hosts events as varied as quiz nights,training courses, birthday parties andwedding receptions.

The function room, which can seatmore than 80 for a meal, oraccommodate up to 140 for a buffet,has been redecorated to a high standard without compromising ontraditional design.

The room features Victorian mirrors,memorabilia relating to the masonicmovement and historical photographs ofthe Covent Garden area.

Rusthall pub haven forsteak-lovers

The Red Lion in LowerGreen Road, Rusthall, a havenfor steak-lovers, has a fresh new look and a comfortable outdoor decked areafollowing a £45,000 refurbishment.

More space has been created, a fresh new look given to the bar and 32-seaterrestaurant and an outside decked area with two large umbrellas, allowing foroutside drinking and dining.

The pub has a steak and house wine offer each evening, and a choice of fivecuts of locally-sourced steaks in a variety of sauces.

Sheppey’s special place inthe history of powered flighthas been recognised in thedécor and styling of TheAviator, a large communitypub purchased by thebrewery in March.

More than £350,000 was spent refurbishing The Aviator atQueenborough - formerly known asthe Lady Hamilton – bringing thebuilding up to modern standards.

The pub is themed with artefactsrecalling the visit of Wilbur and OrvilleWright to Leysdown in 1909, Moore-Brabazon, the first Briton to fly onEnglish soil, the Short brothers aircraftmanufacturers, the Gordon Bennett airrace, the Eastchurch Naval FlyingSchool and RAF Eastchurch.

The Aviator boasts a smart, stylishbar area, decorated in keeping withthe early 20th century theme with blackand white tiled floors and mirrors. The restaurant, at the rear of the pub,seats up to 70.

Outside, the pub has beenredecorated, new signage erected, aterraced area created at the front anda covered area provided for smokers.The car park has been fully landscapedand now has space for up to 60 cars.

The redevelopment was designedwith sustainability in mind, featuringfuel efficient boilers, low wattage LEDlighting and a heat recovery system,which “recycles” energy from warm air leaving the building, providing fresh air, better climate control andincreased energy efficiency.

The Aviator employs 20 staff, led bymanager Phil Chislett, who formerly ranthe White Horse & Bower in Westminster.

The highlight of the officialopening was a flypast by a 1949Chipmunk aeroplane. Guest of honourwas Air Commodore Bill Croydon CBE,the driving force behind the FlyingStart project, which aims to create a heritage, educational, social andleisure venue at the former Eastchurchairfield where British airmen first flew.

Those magnificent menin their flying machines

New Pubs

Jonathan Neame and Air Commodore Bill Croydon CBE toast the pub’s reopening

’’‘‘As brewers of Spitfire it is

particularly fitting for us tohave a pub in Hawkinge

The Plough Inn at FarnhamLocated on West Street on the

edge of the small, historic town, thePlough is split over two levels with asizeable garden.

The brewery plans to spend morethan £50,000 transforming The Ploughinto a warm, traditional pub anddeveloping a seasonal menu using fresh,locally sourced ingredients where possible.

The White Horse Inn,Hawkinge

Located on the main road throughHawkinge, The White Horse Inn is atraditional community-focused pubwith restaurant.

The pub is home to local darts,cribbage, pool and football teams and is popular for its Sunday carveryand restaurant which serves freshlyprepared food using locally sourcedingredients.

RAF Hawkinge was the site of thenearest fighter station to enemy occupiedFrance during the Battle of Britain.

Property and tenanted trade directorGeorge Barnes said: “We’re delightedto have acquired this lively village pub.As brewers of Spitfire it is particularlyfitting for us to have a pub in Hawkinge.”

Stop press!The company is in the process of acquiring The Best

Beech Inn, a fine 17th century pub with restaurant and

accommodation at Wadhurst in East Sussex. The property

will become a Shepherd Neame pub on 9 November.

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Two pub gardens havereceived accolades in theannual Shepherd NeamePub Awards.

Debbie (pictured right) and GaryWelfare, of the Generals Arms at LittleBaddow, Chelmsford, won the ‘LargeGarden of the Year’ award. The couplehave only been at the pub for 11 months,but have already turned the one-acregarden into a destination in its ownright and it was one of 30 gardens toparticipate in Little Baddow’s ‘opengardens’ event earlier this year.

The Woolpack Inn, Brookland,Romney Marsh, won the ‘Best HangingBasket / Small Garden’ award category.Licensee Barry Morgan, who was bornin the village and has run The Woolpackfor five years, won the award for hisoutstanding hanging baskets. Barrytends the garden with the help of pubregular Roy Bushnell.

Both winners received £250 ofgardening vouchers.

Congratulations to other green-fingered licensees, Les Koncsik of the Crown and Anchor, who won the best pub award in this year’sFaversham in Bloom. And Val Knight a The Wilton Arms for two prizes inWestminster in Bloom 2007.

Awards

A major focus of recent investment across our pub estatehas been to unlock potential and enhance outside spaces.Projects at 300 houses will be complete by the end of theyear, with solutions such as jumberellas, pergolas andconverted outbuildings enabling our pubs to accommodatecustomers who wish to smoke and adding valuable tradingspace to our public houses.

The Wharf, DartfordThe outside decking at this

charming waterside pub has beenfitted with an attractive sail-like canopy.

OutInside

The Woolpack, ChilhamThe garden at this 15th century inn

has been transformed from a brick-pavedcourtyard into a stylish English countrygarden with a continental twist.

Traditionally English plants suchas wisteria and climbing roses strungfrom Kentish hop poles are in starkcontrast to a striking ancient olive tree centrepiece.

The George Inn, Leeds This 17th century former coaching

inn, which has a large rear garden, nowboasts a smart new covered patio areafinished with an attractive heated canopy.

The Juggs, Kingston, LewesThe garden at this chocolate box,

15th century pub has had a £24,000makeover, creating a terrace withretractable awning, booth seating and heating.

The George & Dragon, Thames Ditton

This garden has an unusualcentrepiece – a 42” plasma television.The TV sits neatly in the space formerlyoccupied by a window, to the delightof the pub’s many sports followers. The recent Rugby World Cup saw the space packed out with up to 100 people at a time.

Millers Arms, Canterbury This city-centre courtyard garden

has been kitted out with a heatedcanopy and booth seating, with roomfor about 20 guests.

The Britannia, Dungeness,has been used as a locationfor two hit BBC shows – theInspector Lynley Mysteriesand EastEnders.

Landlord Mike Jones evenappeared in the soap opera as an extra.

“I’m the man in the blue shirt atthe end of the bar,” said Mike. “Due toEquity rules about speaking parts, theperson serving Phil Daniels had to bean actor.

“You would never believe therewould be so many people involved –there were about 40 crammed insidefor the scene in the bar,” he said. “ButI tried to avoid too much disruption tocustomers and didn’t close the pub.”

EastEnders also filmed scenesinvolving characters Dot and Jim forthe Easter Monday episode at theRinglestone Inn, near Harrietsham, andthe Spitfire at Kings Hill formed part of

the fictional town of Meadowlands forthe Channel 4 drama Cape Wrath.

Not to be left out, the Rose andCrown, Blackfriars, was used for filmingof the Sky TV science show Brainiac.The episode featured a stunt where amonkey was pitted against a human on the pub’s fruit machine. Rising to the challenge, the monkey won!

Britannia rules the airwaves

Master Brew Kentish Ale, The Local Hero, is sponsoring a newcommunity safety boatwhich will enable Thanet’sMaritime Volunteer Service(MVS) to continue its workto keep Kent’s water-borneevents safe.

The MVS provides safety boats forhigh-profile events across the county,from the River Medway to Deal. Thecharity, which has 35 units in the UK,supports the coastguard and RNLI atmaritime events and emergencies.

The new inflatable boat will benamed the MVS Master Brew and willbe used to train volunteers in vitalmaritime safety skills. Most importantly,it will enable the service once again tobe ready to respond to coastal andriver emergencies, as it has throughoutits proud history.

The boat was unveiled at a launchevent at The Royal Albion Hotel,Broadstairs, attended by ShepherdNeame president Robert Neame (see picture).

Port officer for East Kent, GeoffShaw-Case, said: “We are very proudand grateful to Shepherd Neame forits support. This boat is the mostimportant part of our equipment andwill enable our members to use theirskills, by being in the right place at the right time.”

Volunteer safety boat isKent’s new ‘local hero’

Helping Kent’sHospicesA total of £83,000 worth ofcheques was handed over to the county’s hospices inOctober – the proceeds ofthis year’s Kent Charity Walkorganised by ShepherdNeame and the KentMessenger newspaper group.

Jonathan Neame joined KMGroup chairman Geraldine Allinson topresent 10 cheques of £7,800 each to the Pilgrims Hospices in Ashford,Canterbury and Margate, DemelzaHouse Children’s Hospice inSittingbourne, Heart of Kent Hospicein Aylesford, the Lions Hospice inNorthfleet, the Ellenor Foundation in Dartford, Hospice in the Weald inPembury, Rochester’s Wisdom Hospiceand St Christopher’s Hospice in Bromley.

This year’s walk was held at PortLympne Wild Animal Park near Hytheand an additional cheque for £5,000was presented to the John AspinallFoundation, a charity devoted toprotecting rare and endangered animals.

A total of £763,000 has beenraised for Kent hospices over 12 years of charity walks.

EastEnders: Actors Burn Gorman and Phil Danielsin the Britannia with real-life licensee Mike Jonesbehind the bar

The Inspector Lynley Mysteries: Nathaniel Parker(Inspector Lynley) and Sharon Small (DS Havers)filming in Dungeness

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After centuries of smokypubs, the smoking ban is a major change for pubs,licensees and their customers.Master Brewer talked tosome of our staff andcustomers to find out howthe new smoking legislationis being received across theShepherd Neame estate.

Louise Neary (pictured below left), new tenant of The Chequers at Doddington, decided to take theplunge as a licensee with the advent of the smoking ban.

Neither she nor partner ShaunWheelen have ever smoked, althoughboth have worked in various pubs andclubs over the years.

“The smoking ban was the bigfactor in taking on our own pub,” said Louise. “There is no way I would have come into it otherwise.

“It’s one thing working in a puband going home but I could not havelived with it 24/7, with smoke drifting upthrough the ceiling into the living areas.”

Master Brewer asked a selectionof customers what they thought of thesmoking ban.

Malcolm Godley“I have smoked all my life but in the past few months I have accustomed myself

to not smoking when I have a drink. I am happy to sit inside and talk to my non-smoking friends.”

Dave Lindridge“I have cut down slightly sincethe ban. I have sympathy forsmall pubs with no garden.”

Alan Elphick“As a non-smoker this hasmade no difference to meexcept that you come to the

pub to socialise so if your friends aresmokers and they go outside, then youend up going outside too. Things maychange when winter comes as peopleare less likely to stand out in the cold.”

Alan Hunter“The pub is better than it was– it smells fresher and thereare less people hanging

around at the bar.”

Chris Callaghan“The pub is cleaner andsmells better and on the wholeit is great.”

Breath of fresh air

Shepherd Neame pubs in new research

A new research project on pubs across the UK hasrevealed excellent news forShepherd Neame. Marketresearchers him! haveinterviewed more than 5,000 pub goers as part of their ontrack survey tofind out their opinions onaspects of modern pubs.

The project also highlightsdevelopments in the market, with stylegiving way to substance; the bars ofthe ‘90s are losing out to pubs which

offer niche and speciality drinks, agood atmosphere, welcoming outsidespace and a good range of food.

Customer satisfaction atShepherd Neame pubs was ‘best inclass’ across seven out of 10 areassurveyed, including speed andfriendliness of service, atmosphere,seating comfort, cleanliness and safety.

Loyalty was also high: more than90% of visitors to a Shepherd Neamepub are happy to recommend it.

Shepherd Neame houses alsoscored highly for pub food in allcategories: food service, quality, menu range, value for money and the availability of healthy options.

Shepherd Neame hasbecome one of the firstpartners of the BritishInstitute of Innkeeping’s (BII)new initiative to promoteresponsible alcohol educationfor young people.

A key partner of the ‘School’sHospitality Project’, the brewery hassigned up to work directly with anumber of local schools and colleges,including The Queen ElizabethGrammar School and The AbbeySchool, Faversham.

The brewery is currently trainingsome of its staff to become outreachcounsellors, whose role it will be togive talks to the students.

Two Faversham licensees, David Little at The Anchor and Chris McClean at The Railway, havealso signed up to the scheme.

Jonathan Neame said: “The BIIproject is just what the industry needsand it sits very well with a lot of thework that we are already doing tosupport our local schools.

“Evidence of binge and underagedrinking are extremely concerning andwe need to give young people the

confidence and knowledge toexperience alcohol with maturity.

“We feel that as a responsiblebrewer and pub operator we must beinvolved in ensuring that ouryoungsters are well-informed aboutthe dangers of alcohol misuse.”

The brewery sponsors a KentPeer Drama Competition, which aimsto raise awareness of the issues suchas alcohol affecting young people,and is working closely with KentPolice. Earlier this year saw thebrewery playing host to the KentSchool’s Conference.

Learning about responsible drinking

As part of the company’sdrive to improve energyefficiency, the brewery hasinstalled an innovative PDXheating system for its copperboilers. The high-technologyheater has improved energyefficiency by 50% in thebrewhouse and greatlyreduced water usage.

Production and distributiondirector Ian Dixon commented: “It’sthis kind of efficiency improvementwhich won us the Queen’s Award forSustainable Development and NationalBusiness Award. We are continuouslylooking at ways to reduce our carbonfootprint, without compromising onthe flavour or quality of our beers.”

Originally created for marineengines, PDX harnesses shockwavetechnology and is subject to 40 patentsgranted and pending worldwide.

Efficient energy use securesenvironmental award

The brewery’s continued efforts tocut energy use have been recognisedagain after winning the corporatesocial responsibility category at theBusiness XL10 Company of the YearAwards. Head brewer David Holmescollected the award from TimothyCampbell, a former winner of BBC TV’sThe Apprentice.

Three new developments at the brewery have saved time and money and made life morecomfortable for staff.

In the first phase of a major investment in the bottling plant, more than £675,000 has been spent on a palletiser anddepalletiser, which carry new bottles onto the line then take them off and shrink wrap them ready for shipping.

The brewery has also invested in another shrink wrap machine and now presentation cases, promotional packs, Spitfiretubes and the Kent Collection are assembled in-house.

The cask racking line has been fully automated, making the process quicker, easier, safer and more energy efficient.Head brewer David Holmes said: “This has also had the effect of making the job more ergonomically friendly for staff.

The new kit takes out the old shive and keystone in one swift motion.”

Major development of the brewery

Energy saving has

PDX-Factor

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Jack Wahlberg, Faversham’snew town crier, made his firstmajor appearance in the townat this year’s Hop Festival.

Sponsored by the brewery, Jack entertained the crowds withannouncements and news of hopfestival events using the “nom de cri”Jack Sprat as a horn quartet welcomedcrowds on the platform at Faversham.

“I thought it would be nice tohave an old-fashioned name, rather

than my own name,” said 62-year-oldJack. “It suits me because I am quitetall and thin.”

Jack, from Uplees, Oare, is semi-retired and drives for a respitecare centre in Faversham.

Faversham has not had a towncrier since the beginning of World WarII, and when the Faversham Societydecided to revive the tradition ofhaving a town crier, Jack volunteered.

Counting our blessingsStaff, local growers and guests

celebrated the hop harvest at the parishchurch of St Peter and St Paul in

Boughton under Blean, followed by ahop-picker’s lunch at nearby WellbrookOast at Wellbrook Farm.

Earlier in the day, visitors weretold of the health benefits of beer inthe Goldings Lecture, delivered byProfessor Jonathan Powell, from theMedical Research Council’s HumanNutrition Research unit at Cambridge.

Professor Powell spoke of recentresearch into beer and demonstratedthat the simple natural ingredients ofbarley, hops and water have significanthealth benefits, particularly with regardto bone health.

Research has already shown that it is a source of silicon, which increasesbone strength and reduces the risk of bone decay and osteoporosis,particularly in women.

More recent findings from ProfessorPowell show that, as part of a healthydiet, moderate alcohol consumptioncontributes to both suppressing loss ofbone density and bone building. Thisappears to be as a combined result ofthree components unique to beer:alcohol, silicon and hop compounds.

Land of hop and glory

A new microbrewery spranginto action this summer,enabling the company tobrew unique ales for specialoccasions and events.

Representatives from the localCAMRA branch joined our brewers tolaunch the new five-barrel microbrewery.Bob Thompson and Linda Clarke fromCAMRA’s Swale branch helped brewand christen the first ale – a classicdark mild, which was available at theCAMRA Kent Beer Festival.

Old Faversham Dark was brewed toa traditional dark mild recipe using acombination of pale ale, crystal and blackmalts with East Kent Goldings hops and

the company’s own ale yeast resultingin a classic mild ale with delicate hopflavours and a distinct smoky quality.

The ale came second out of 53Kent ales tested by experts in blindtasting at the festival.

Ian Dixon said: “The microbreweryallows our brewers to test new recipes andto use malts that we wouldn’t normallyuse. We can now offer unique ales fora limited time at selected pubs andevents, tailor-made to suit the occasion.We’re hoping to create some real gems.”

Other brews have included CobtreeMild for the Maidstone Beer Festival,Faversham Steam Ale for the FavershamHop Festival and What’s Brewed,produced by What’s Brewing editor TomStainer for the St Albans Beer Festival.

Limited edition ales fromnew microbrewery

Brewer Stewart Main at the new microbrewery

Beer comes the brideBride Karen Burr and groomRichard Snell made historythis September as the firstcouple in the UK to getmarried in a brewery.

The couple, from Teynham, held a ceremony for 40 people in theShepherd Neame brewhouse, followedby a meal and party in the visitorcentre. Bottles of ale were labelledwith the newlyweds’ names and thedate of the wedding.

Richard said that the brewery,which was licensed for weddingsearlier this year, was the perfect venue:“The great thing about gettingmarried at the brewery is you can have the reception there and it’s alovely building with lots of history.”

For more information aboutbrewery weddings and special eventstelephone 01795 542285.

If you are running an event and havea great idea for a beer then get intouch with your account manager

Sport

Published on behalf of Shepherd Neame by Edwards Harvey, The Mill House, Hollingworth Court, Maidstone, Kent ME14 5PPPrinted on 80% recycled stock that has been awarded the NAPM and Eugropa recycled certificates

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Kent cup win

Darts players had thechance to compete against a world champion at thefinals of the Holsten Exporton the Oche tournament atthe Tudor Livesey Sportsand Social Club, Catford on 31 July.

Each of the 13 finalists playedformer Embassy World Championshipwinner Steve “The Bronzed Adonis”Beaton and, although no one managed tobeat him, Neal Montgomery from RainhamWMC, Essex, was declared the winnerafter achieving the best aggregate score.

The knockout stages of thetournament, run in partnership withWorld of Darts, began in January.Nearly 1,600 darts players from morethan 100 managed, tenanted and freetrade houses took part.

Holsten Export on the oche

Left to right: Tony Wallbridge from ShepherdNeame, former world champion Steve Beatonand competition winner Neil Montgomery

Shepherd Neame Twenty20 club championship

Kent Spitfires, sponsored by SpitfirePremium Kentish Ale, clinched a thrillingfour-wicket victory over Gloucestershire withjust three balls to spare in the Twenty20 Cupfinal at Edgbaston. Earlier in the day, theSpitfires defeated Sussex by five wickets inthe semi final. It’s Kent’s first trophy successsince winning the Sunday League in 2001.Congratulations to the club!

Away from the crease, Kent also celebrated success in the Mascot race - with Spitfirebombing past Lancashire’s Lanky the Giraffe at the last!

Cricket clubs from across Kent,Surrey, Essex and Middlesexdrew the season to a close instyle, at the Shepherd NeameTwenty20 Club Championshipheld at The County Groundat Beckenham.

Kent finalists Bromley playedSurrey winners Old Whitgiftians in thefirst semi-final, and Middlesex finalistsFinchley played against Saffron Walden,who triumphed in the Essex competition.The championships’ total prize fundworth was more than £10,000.

Credit: KM Group

Autumn 2007

M A S T E R

BREWER